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Engineering Career Services

The Employment Process

Begin with the End in Mind

Stephen Covey – The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People

This guide is designed to help you navigate the employment process as an engineering student! Whether you are looking for your first internship or an entry-level job, these materials will assist you in securing employment.

Please know that the typical employment process takes time, and we encourage you to begin during your first semester. One of the primary reasons that graduates struggle with finding employment after graduation is that they did not give the required attention to the employment process during their college career.

Our team is here to support you with your job search. Please contact us if you have any questions or would like assistance getting started!

Transition to Engineering Prep Resource in Canvas

In an effort to consolidate our resources into one central location we have merged the Guide to Employment on our website with our Engineering Prep Resource on Canvas. We still currently have condensed information on each topic on our website, but will be transitioning all of this information over during the 2023-2024 school year. The Prep Resource in Canvas is currently only available to current College of Engineering Students. If you are an Alumni please email us at ecs@iastate.edu and we would be more than happy to provide any resources and information we can.

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Step 1: Understand Employers and the College Recruiting Process

As you prepare for a career as an engineer, it is important to understand the expectations that your future employers will have of you.  You also need to have an understanding of the character traits and skills that employers value because they look for these as they evaluate candidates for employment.  It is also important to understand the college recruiting process because it gives students and recent graduates a big advantage over others in the job market.

Step 2: Determine Career Goals and Skills Set

Performing a self-assessment helps with resume development, helps identify employers for networking, and helps determine what skills and interests to highlight during networking and interviewing.

Step 3: Identify Preliminary Target Employers

After completing your self-assessment, begin looking at the employers that typically hire your major and appeal to you.

Apply

Step 4: Develop Effective Application Materials

It is important to realize that the employment process involves marketing yourself.  A lot of good students struggle to find employment simply because they have not put in the time and effort to their resume and cover letter.

Step 5: Search for Specific Employment Opportunities and Apply

Once your marketing campaign has been prepared, you are ready to begin looking for employment opportunities through CyHire, secondary sources and your network. 

Network

Step 6: Network with Potential Employers

Networking is an essential part of the job search process.  It is a simple process but requires preparation and practice to be done well.

Interview & Evaluate

Step 7: Interview and Follow Up

An interview is an opportunity to present your qualifications and convince the employer that you are the right person for the job. While all aspects of the job search are important. The interview and related follow-up are the most important events in the job search process.

Step 8: Evaluate and Negotiate Offers

An interview is an opportunity to present your qualifications and convince the employer that you are the right person for the job. While all aspects of the job search are important. The interview and related follow-up are the most important events in the job search process.

Step 9: Sign Employment Contract and Celebrate

Most employers require a contract to be signed that delineates the terms and conditions of the employment relationship.

Step 10: Inform Engineering Career Services and Discontinue your Job Search

The final step in the process is to inform Engineering Career Services of your employment and discontinue your job search.